Ogawa Coffee Brings Japanese Perfection in A Cup

I'm not REALLY a coffee connoisseur, but I got spoiled living in LA, when there was a renaissance of great coffee shops. I may not be able to blind test different single origin coffees, but I know bad coffee from good coffee, at least. So when I came to Boston last year, I asked around where to find good coffee. "I just go to Dunkin' Donuts" was invariably the most common response.

Hm. Like I said, I was spoiled. Luckily, Ogawa Coffee came from Boston. Ogawa Coffee has been running a chain of stores and their own coffee bean roasting in Kyoto for more than 60 years. Their foray into Boston is their first international venture, and they chose Boston because it is one of Kyoto's sister cities and they see Boston's abundance of universities and focus on education as a common ground between the two cities.

When you walk in, you'll notice the stadium seating to the right, which faces a serving counter. They'll eventually hold demos and classes using this area.

Ogawa's signature drink ($10 but you get two drinks, really) is a glass of chilled espresso - smooth and just slightly sweetened - served with a cup of hot cappuccino.

If you're lucky and you're in the store when Haruna Maruyama is in, then you should ask for some special latte art. She's the champion of the 2010 World Barista Latte Art and was both the first Japanese and the first woman to win the distinction! Don't fret if she's not in because she's been training the other baristas who all have their signature art, but do know you're in for a treat when she is.

The thing about Japanese is their attention to detail. They heat up their glassware with hot water before serving the coffee so as not to change the temperature of the coffee too much!

Read more »

LA Giveaway: Brunch at the Races at Santa Anita Park

Need a day out? How does heading out to the horse races at Santa Anita Park while brunching on dishes from some of LA's best restaurants sound? If that sounds like a great day to you, then bookmark this upcoming event: Brunch at the Races.

On Saturday, October 18, LA Weekly is throwing a brunch at the Santa Anita Park.

Among the restaurants they've lined up are Auntie Em's, BierBeisl Imbiss, Go Get Em Tiger, Cassell's Hamburger, Goldie's, McConell's Fine Ice Creams, and more. There will be beer/wine/cocktails available as well. Eat, drink, watch the horse races, or maybe place a bet on one of the horses. Either way, you're in for a good time.

Tickets are $45 and grants you access to the event as well as full day admission into Santa Anita Park. For $65 you can get a VIP ticket that will get you access to a special VIP lounge and a gift bag. Parking at the park is $4.

But wait! For one of you lucky readers, LA Weekly has partnered with Gourmet Pigs to give away a pair of general admission tickets! Enter using the form below before the marked deadline, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From Old School New England Classics to The Present at Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall (Salem, MA)

I was recently invited to check out the newer location of Turner's Seafood up in Salem, MA. Turner's Seafood opened their first seafood restaurant in Melrose over 20 years ago, taking the name of a popular old fisheries that used to supply to the Westin hotel chain. They opened up the Salem location 22 months ago.

Sure, Salem is mostly about the old witch trials and stuff, but I was more excited about this: Turner's Seafood is located at the old Lyceum Hall, which was where Alexander Graham Bell first did his public demonstration of the telephone! That's history right there.

I also love how Turner's Seafood is supporting local businesses, like the Ryan & Wood Distillery in Gloucester, MA. They use this distillery's products in many cocktails, like the Pamplemousse (Beauport vodka, St. Germain, pink grapefruit juice, lemon)

One of the key components of Turner's is the oyster bar. Sure, oyster bars are pretty common now, but when they first launched their oyster bar at their Melrose location 15 years ago, they were one of the few. Turner's still has a leg up, though, boasting one of their staff, Ryan Kripp (middle), the two-time champion of Boston Seafood Festival's Oyster Shucking contest!

Naturally, we started with some fresh oyster: Kumamoto, Pemaquid, and Wellfleet

Followed with broiled Pemaquid oysters with fennel butter

Read more »